Practices of the Second World War (1939–45)
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Question
What does "practices of war" mean in Paper 2?
Answer
How a war was actually fought — the tactics, technology, mobilisation and foreign involvement — not just who won.
Question
Define Blitzkrieg.
Answer
German for 'lightning war': fast, combined tank-and-air attacks that break through and surround the enemy before it can react.
Question
What was Operation Barbarossa (1941)?
Answer
The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 — the largest land invasion in history, which ultimately failed.
Question
Why was the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43) important?
Answer
A whole German army was surrounded and forced to surrender, turning the Eastern Front and beginning Germany's long retreat.
Question
Why did the Battle of Britain (1940) matter?
Answer
Britain's RAF, aided by radar, held off German bombing — the first battle decided almost entirely in the air.
Question
What were the two great naval turning points?
Answer
The Battle of the Atlantic kept Britain supplied; Midway (1942), a carrier battle, turned the war in the Pacific.
Question
What is total war?
Answer
War in which whole countries mobilise — economies, factories, rationing and civilians all bend around the war effort.
Question
How did the USA enter the war?
Answer
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the USA joined the Allies and out-produced every enemy combined.
Question
What did Lend-Lease provide?
Answer
US trucks, food and weapons sent to Britain and the USSR, keeping the Allies supplied even before America joined.
Question
What was D-Day (1944)?
Answer
The Allied landings in Normandy, France — the largest sea invasion ever — which opened the western front against Germany.
Question
How did the war against Japan end?
Answer
The USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, and Japan surrendered days later.
Question
What was the core reason the Allies won?
Answer
Overwhelming economic and industrial superiority plus a two-front war that split and exhausted German forces.
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Topic 16.2 hub
Practices of war and their impact on outcome
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